On this day (April 24) in 1932, Newcastle United won the FA Cup final against Arsenal, beating the Gunners 2-1 in controversial circumstances. The Magpies scored an equaliser that shouldn’t have stood as the ball had clearly gone out of play in the build-up.
If the correct decision was given, Arsenal would have maintained a 1-0 lead and may have gone into the break ahead. They didn’t, however, and Newcastle made them pay when Jack Allen completed his brace midway through the second half to turn the game on its head.
Andy Cunningham started with Albert McInroy, Jimmy Nelson, David Fairhurst, Roddie MacKenzie, Dave Davidson, Sam Weaver, Jimmy Boyd, Jimmy Richardson, Jack Allen, Harry McMenemy and Tommy Lang in front of more than 92,000 at Wembley, but Newcastle went behind early on.
Bob John gave Arsenal the lead in the 15th minute, but the Toon Army responded after the half hour mark with the controversial goal. The ball was visibly over the byline when Richardson crossed for Allen to equalise, but the goal stood.
Arsenal protested in vain and photographic evidence would back up their argument, but there was an hour of the game remaining and the Gunners didn’t have a response. Allen scored in the second half and Newcastle held on to claim the trophy.
